OH, BOY, Poison Ivy is back! That 3 leafed terror of nature and destroyer of vacation fun is starting to rear it’s ugly head once again. What should you look for in order to avoid coming in contact with this pesky foliage and what do you do if you do happen to brush up against some while exploring your outdoor wonderland?

First, know what to look for:

Here’s another picture: Note the 3 leaves

What does a poison ivy rash look like and how does it feel? Well, it feels like a constant burning and desire to scratch. Avoid scratching, you can actually spread the oils over other parts of your skin and infect other areas. Also, if you think you’ve come in contact with poison ivy, you should wash the infected area with oil cutting soap, like a dish washing liquid within 10 minutes of contact. Obviously you need to wash your clothes immediately. Animals can carry the oils on their fur too, so if you and your pooch went for a walk out in the woods, just know that they could have picked up some oil on their fur that can be transferred to you as well.

This is what a poison ivy rash looks like:

Looks pretty nasty, huh? You can actually see where the vine made contact. This looks extremely painful. If you are allergic and have had bouts with poison ivy, than you already know this to be true. That actually leads me to an interesting side note, not everyone will feel the effects of poison ivy, you actually have to be allergic to it to respond with blistering. Now keep in mind, if you aren’t allergic now, you can actually develop the allergy in the future, so your best bet is to just avoid the plant altogether.

Here’s a great video on what to look for and how you can help relieve some of the discomfort. Any local pharmacy will have any number of creams you can apply to help with the itching.

Sometimes we are having so much fun out doors in our RVs and camping that we forget that Mother Nature isn’t always nice. There are a variety of plants and animals out there whose defensive mechanisms can be very painful, if not down right dangerous when encountered. A very sever reaction to poison ivy can actually land you in the hospital, so be careful out there.

However, don’t let that keep you from going RVing and enjoying the outdoors. You know as well as I do that there isn’t anything like having the freedom to go anywhere you want, anytime you want in your new, or RV. Give PPL Motorhomes a call when you are ready to tackle the RV lifestyle and come and take a look at some of the fantastic consignment RVs we have to help you hit the road this Spring and Summer.

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I have been with PPL Motor Homes since 1980 and have been fortunate enough to grow up with the company. A native Houstonian, I have been blessed with years of wonderful experiences and memories of RVing with family and friends. With 3 children, 8 grandchildren and a ton of friends who I refer to as my adopted family, I was a Nana long before I became RV Nana. I was blessed to have shared this lifestyle with my late husband, a Cajun from Lafayette, and his spirit will live on in all of us as we continue down the road of life.
My life with PPL has given me so many wonderful chapters, from sharing my RV experiences as RV Nana to working with the Texas Campground Owners Association and holding the position of President of the Texas RV Association from 2011-2013, so it’s easy to see that the RV lifestyle is my style. Watch for me on the road …I’m the one with the RV Nana license plates on my car and RV, and share your RV experiences with me. See you soon!